Personalities

It seems that Jonathan Adler‘s happy chic design and bold, beautiful colors were being celebrated everywhere this week. From the introduction of his two new books…

Happy Chic Colors and Accessories

to a lesson on Good Morning Americawith Robin Roberts on how to create more energy in your home (hint: asymmetry is key and pillows are the exclamation points!) …

Before - Symmetry and Matchy-Matchy

Asymmetry = Energy

to a fabulous (and, in our opinion, the most memorable) little girl’s bedroom Jonathan decorated with Liz Lange for the CFDA showhouse at The Aldyn, where fashion designers collaborated with interior decorators to create a collection of glamorous apartments to inspire us all.

A Bedroom Fit for a Princess!

We love the fact that Liz and Jonathan came together once again (he decorated her Westchester home, too!) to create a space that celebrates a child’s innate sense of style and design. Seeing all these relaxed and colorful interiors remind us that decorating should be filled with fun!

Colorful and Fun Accessories!

Dinner is Served

Happy Friday, everyone!

P.S. For more of Jonathan’s iconic style and smiling face, click here to see his interview with our friend, Marisa, from Style Beat.

P.P. S. To buy some of Jonathan’s iconic style, head on over to the new online shop, zhush.com, where you’ll find a great selection of fabulous gifts!

Saying that we’re huge fans of the charming and delightful Charles Faudree would be quite the understatement – we have all his books, love his French Country style and share his belief that flowers are the single most important decorating accessory. So when Mr. Faudree came to town last week for a book signing at Pierre Deux in Westport, we were there with bells on and floral gift in hand!

Country French Florals & Interiors

Pink Perfection in a Pretty Glass Vase

An English Tea Box Holds a Bright Bouquet

Once our copy of Country French Florals & Interiors had been signed (for our mother, of course!) “May your home be filled with joy, much happiness and a few flowers. Enjoy the good life!”, we stayed and chatted about Mr. Faudree’s love of flowers (as a child he helped his grandmother with her cutting garden), his long-time friendship with David Easton (we can’t divulge the antics and pranks these two played on each other!) and his fabulous interior design business and store in Tulsa, Oklahoma (which we hope to visit the next time we head west.)

Fabulous Fabrics for Vervain

A Jamaican Home, Charles Faudree Style!

Needless to say, a wonderful morning spent with a lovely person in a pretty store – who wouldn’t be tickled to be in the presence of such talent?

Having spent the weekend “oohing and ahhing” over the pages of the latest Traditional Home (and not only because we’re in it – see page 76!), we had to post about the fabulous work of Laura Kirar for Arteriors Home. A graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Laura has designed collections for the likes of Baker, McGuire and Tufenkian. This latest endeavor allows her to create living art and organic forms from bronze, glass and ceramic, so that we can all “bring home the joyous quality of nature.”

Cast-Bronze "Maize" Lamp

"Seeds and Leaves" Chandelier

We love every single piece of Laura’s collection – from the mix of geometry and whimsy to the elegant, yet modern shapes, there’s definitely something for every taste and decorating style.

Glass "Mercury Vases" with Bronze Bobeches

Cast-Bronze "Cypress Bonzai" Sculpture

For more information, pricing and retail locations, see Laura’s new catalogue at Arteriors Home.

Inspired by a picture of Delphine Krakoff’s sheep on The Zhush, I did a little sleuthing and found out that the first major retrospective of Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne’s whimsical work opened at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris last month.

Delphine Krakoff for Pamplemousse Design

Known for their “sense of absurdity”, this legendary couple not only created the iconic sheep (which graced Park Avenue last October), but fabulous furniture, jewelry and home decor, as well. The exhibit, designed by architect and Lalanne uber-collector Peter Marino, includes more than 150 pieces inspired by animals and nature in a fantasy French chateau setting.

"Les Lalannes" Exhibition - Musee des Arts Decoratifs

"Les Lalannes" Rabbits with Tutus and Mice with Fans

From what we have heard, visitors to the Musee are in for a treat. From the “monkey room” dedicated to Yves St. Laurent’s collection which graced his Rue de Babylone home to a dining room with a table-top fountain commissioned by Marino for his own New York apartment, every room is filled with magic.

Claude Lalanne - Mobilier Gingko c. 1996

Claude Lalanne - Bambiloba c. 2005

And if the furniture is too much for you, there’s always Claude’s gorgeous jewelry and home accessories!

Our dear friend, decorator Mario Buatta, called the other day looking for foxglove plants for clients in Texas and though we haven’t featured these plants in our collection in years, we were more than happy to oblige. Given his love for classic English style and use of floral prints, Mario is the so-called “Prince of Chintz” (a nickname he received twenty-five years ago).

Mario Buatta - Living Room in New York

Mario Buatta - Bedroom in Houston

With its hand-drawn, exotic flowery patterns and beautiful colors, Indian chintz (from Hindi meaning sprinkled or sprayed) was introduced to the English by the British East India Company in the 1600’s. The fabric’s soft texture and easy maintenance (compared to the wools and linens that were de rigueur in those days) made it an instant success and its popularity has never faded.

Lee Jofa - Smithfield Parnham

Some may think of chintz as fussy and old-fashioned, but we think that the new patterns being introduced by the likes of Celerie Kemble and Cath Kidston are fresh and fun. Mario couldn’t agree more – “Every decade has had its chintz. It’s like having a garden in your house year-round, and it’s cheaper!”

It’s not surprising given her prestigious pedigree and youthful, yet very chic, aesthetic that Sara Gilbane was nominated one of the “Next Wave of Designers to Watch” in the latest issue of House Beautiful magazine.

Like many designers we know, Sara grew up with architecture and design as part of her life as the daughter of a nationally recognized real estate developer. After graduating from Brown University, Sara went on to study interior design at RISD and began her career with the fabulous firm of Celerie Kemble.

Over the years, Sara has worked on a number of commercial and residential projects, developing her signature style that is classic, eclectic, elegant and clean. We love how Sara creates beautiful interiors using her client’s prizes possessions and antiques and adding her innate sense of color and flair (especially when she uses lots of floral touches!)

On top of running her own design firm and working with clients from Newport to Palm Beach, Sara has found the time to launch a blog last week called Travel for Design, which will bring the best of travel, art, fashion, culture, real estate, cuisine, and design seen through her eyes. Her first post will be on An American Family in St. Barth’s and we can wait to see what she writes!

Christian Dior, one of our favorite fashion designers, is quoted as saying “I have designed flower women” when he launched Corolle (the French word for the botanical term corolla or circlet of flower petals), his first collection in 1947. This collection ushered in the New Look, the most famous single season in fashion history. Gone were the conservative styles of the war period with Dior’s decadent use of corsets and swaths of material reminiscent of the “Belle Epoque”.

1950's Dress with Floral Embroidery

Born 105 years ago today, Dior was known for his feminine silhouettes, voluminous skirts and rich floral fabrics. Though he died young, Dior’s legacy lives on in the brilliant designers who have succeeded him at the helm of his eponymous fashion house, including Yves St. Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre and John Galliano.

Fall 2007 Couture Collection

Spring 2009 Couture Collection

Even Dior accessories and cosmetics have flower power…

Diorette Milly La Foret Jewelry Collection

Flower Blossom - Floral Illuminating Powder

Happy Birthday, Christian Dior, and thank you for such fabulous floral fashion!

Of all the gifts opened over the holidays, one of our favorites is the new book from our fabulous client, Nancy Corzine. We sadly missed her appearance at Bergdorf Goodman in December but were so pleased to receive Glamour at Home for Christmas. Having personally worked with Nancy on several projects and with our flowers gracing her Palm Beach and Southampton stores, we know how glamorous her style can be.

Nancy Corzine: Glamour At Home

With her own gorgeous line of to-the-trade fabrics, furnishings and lighting, and her refined elegance, Nancy creates environments that are luxurious yet very livable. While her palette tends toward the paler shades, her signature accessories – a gilded mirror, a crystal sphere, a patterned pillow – add the perfect dash of glitz.

Nancy Corzine's Patterned Pillows

Nancy Corzine's Pale Palette

We so loved every page in Glamour at Home and were thrilled to see our designs in some of her interiors!

Joined by his design assistant, the level-headed and calm Mat, Jeff is busy capturing the New York party scene after a very successful career as Artistic Director of the George V in Paris. While the budgets are smaller (nothing compares to having $1 million a year for flowers!), the creations are no less amazing. So far, Jeff has designed for a myriad of clients: a wedding at The Waldorf Astoria, a charity event at Chelsea Piers, the launch of Marc Jacob’s new perfume Lola, and an intimate dinner for a friend.

Jeff at The Waldorf Astoria

Jeff at The Waldorf Astoria

We have been fans of Jeff’s long before he became a TV celebrity. In March 2002, Diane read an article in The New York Times about his blossoming talent and was soon on a plane to Paris just to see his flowers at the George V. After hanging around the lobby for several days, the concierge asked her if she would like to meet the designer behind these gorgeous works of art. Needless to say, Diane was thrilled and speaks of Jeff’s charming nature and passion for flowers to this day. We continue to be blown away by Jeff’s originality and use of color as he transforms every room he touches into a haven for the senses, and can’t wait for more of Flowers Uncut!

Jeff's Creations at the George V

In the meantime, here are some of Jeff’s trade secrets… Enjoy!

1. Add a splash of Perrier in each vase – the bubbles cling to the stems.

It’s Tabletop Week again and 7West kicked off the festivities with a great discussion on creativity hosted by iconic potter Jonathan Adler and prolific journalist Rima Suqi. From his childhood passion of throwing pots in the basement of his family’s modern home to his first order from Barneys in 1994, Jonathan has stayed true to his motto that “if your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it.”

Genius Potter Jonathan Adler

Now, his collection of “happy chic” home accessories (sold in over 1,000 stores worldwide and in eleven Jonathan Adler stores) has expanded to include not only pottery, but pillows and throws, rugs, lighting, candles and diffusers and even a collection for Barbie’s 50th birthday.

Barbie Vase

During the conversation, Jonathan shared some of his tips on starting a business (“hang out with tragic, cautionary tales and learn from them!”), what fuels his creativity (Latin American weavers helped launched his pillow line) and humourous anecdotes on doing business abroad (like parrots dropping dead during a meeting in Peru.)

Acapulco Pillows

When creating his collections, Jonathan follows three design philosophies: organic modernism (paired down yet “crafty”), deluxe (a.k.a. David Hicks, Palm Beach, Hollywood Regency) and pop (hippy and groovy). His paired down sensibility with a sense of exuberance is clearly seen in his wonderful products and his colorful voice in interior design is unique. Thank you, Jonathan and Rima, for a most enjoyable time!